i agree with another poster: the way to reduce the overall sound level
is to have small loudspekers (with poor bass response) and to put them
as close as possible to the audience so they don't need to be loud.

Is this in the UK? If this is a commercial bar then surely the terms
of his licence must take account of the houses nearby. If the sound is
audible in the houses and his licence says it must not be then that's a
matter for the council environmental health dept.


Robert